If one wonders why there's still war in the world despite our so-called civilization, one might take a look at the super-popularity (top best-seller) of the super-realistic video game Modern Warfare. Despite what we like to think, the ego just loves killin'.
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Illustro said:
...currently there's no correlation between violent video games and real-world violence. For many its catharsis.
I would also like to point out that a lot of extremely violent games-not all of them, just many-center on the horrors depicted in their world. The Fallout series, for example. There are many cringe-worthy moments within those games. It works as escapism because of how far removed it is from present circumstances but if you ever wanted to convince me dropping an atom bomb was a bad idea you'd need only show me those games.
eolake said...
I agree. I've long thought that violent entertainment, far from causing violence, is a safe outlet as well as way of observing the ego.
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Despite how civilized the world might think it is, we are still children in the grand sceheme of things.
Says a man who enjoys Metalocalypse. ;)
Though in all seriousness, the same thing you said about that could pertain to this. IE, it isn't real so it's okay. And currently there's no correlation between violent video games and real-world violence. For many its catharsis.
I would also like to point out that a lot of extremely violent games-not all of them, just many-center on the horrors depicted in their world. The Fallout series, for example. There are many cringe-worthy moments within those games. It works as escapism because of how far removed it is from present circumstances but if you ever wanted to convince me dropping an atom bomb was a bad idea you'd need only show me those games.
I agree. I've long thought that violent entertainment, far from causing violence, is a safe outlet as well as way of observing the ego.
Now, in retrospect, I realize what you might have been saying in this post had nothing to do with entertainment itself but the base drives it caters to, yes?
If indeed that's the case then I wonder if it isn't the label of insanity which causes people to act out like that. Every drive has its place and every facet of illusion alludes to something real-that's where I'm coming from-so it is only in acceptance and expression that insanity can truly give way to sanity.
The world at large prides itself on its ability to repress and so the inevitable expression of its drives is as destructive as the mechanism which is meant to keep them in check. In short, to embrace what lies beyond my egoic self, I need to accept the uncomfortable facets of the Self which my ego represents. Only then can I be at peace with what I've created.
Sure, I can try diving right into that, but there's the rub-to sustain awareness of what I truly am the layers of misperception must be gradually stripped away, not as a requirement but as a rule. It just doesn't work very well otherwise. It's why teachers like Tolle never held my interest for very long. It was inspiring but there's not much to be done with it when the authors leave such a huge gap between the ideal and the reality of the situation.
"Now, in retrospect, I realize what you might have been saying in this post had nothing to do with entertainment itself but the base drives it caters to, yes?"
Yes.
"It was inspiring but there's not much to be done with it when the authors leave such a huge gap between the ideal and the reality of the situation."
Right.
Have you read The Disappearance Of The Universe? I think that's on the dot.
I have but it didn't click with me. Most New Agey stuff really doesn't; too often it strips the substance out of old teachings or puts its own spin on them instead of doing it's own thing. Plus I don't really jive with an approach that talks about trascending the world as opposed to advancement by embracing life fully.
I know something like... Well let's use my previous example: Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now." It doesn't discourage worldly success but it does downplay the validity of any other method aside from what the author presents. He himself alludes to how adrenaline junkies do what they do because it brings out their core selves but says it gets you addicted to experience. Not so-not if you're doing it consciously. I prefer an active rather than passive methodology so while I'm not an adrenaline junkie per se I take on the biggest challenges I can find to both expose deeply rooted issues and go beyond them to my true Self.
Yes, I think that it's not what you do which matters, but awareness of how you think and feel.
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